To say that authority, whether secular or religious, supplies no ground for morality is not to deny the obvious fact that it supplies a sanction.

Summary

This quote suggests that while authority, whether coming from secular institutions or religious beliefs, may not be the ultimate source of morality, it does provide a form of justification or support for moral principles. In other words, while authority may not be the origin or foundation of moral standards, it can play a role in providing validation or enforcement for ethical norms. This acknowledgment does not negate the idea that morality can exist independently of authority, but it recognizes the sanctioning function that authority can have in shaping and upholding moral principles within a society.

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